Rachel Ramsey and Hannah Brandt scored power-play goals as No. 1-ranked Minnesota erased a 1-0 deficit and went on to beat North Dakota 3-1 Saturday night in the WCHA Final Face-Off championship game at Bemidji, Minn.

Josefine Jakobsen gave North Dakota a 1-0 lead on a rebound goal early in the second period before the Gophers (36-1-1) came back with three unanswered goals.

Minnesota tied the score on its second power play midway through the second period. Ramsey sent a shot through traffic that found an opening inside the right post.

Brandt scored three minutes later, and Dana Cameranesi wrapped up the scoring on an empty-netter with 1:16 to play in the third period.

“Our power play was clicking as good as it has been all year,” Gophers coach Brad Frost said, “and I thought we made the most out of our opportunities.

Minnesota outshot North Dakota 44-21.

Gophers goalie Amanda Leveille and forward Kelly Terry joined Ramsey and Cameranesi on the all-tournament team. Ramsey was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

Minnesota earned the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA tournament. The rest of the eight-team field will be announced at 5 p.m. Sunday on NCAA.com.

“We aren’t too concerned about who we get in the first round, but it is always fun to face a new team and see how they play,” Brandt said. “Whoever we play, we will be ready for Saturday.”

Tommies win MIAC

Megan Juricko and Paige Baldwin scored first-period goals and Alise Riedel stopped 29 shots and recorded her 15th career shutout as top-seeded St. Thomas (19-5-3) defeated second-seed Gustavus Adolphus 2-0 in the MIAC playoff championship game in Mendota Heights.

The No. 7-ranked Tommies advance to the national playoffs for the first time since 2003. They ended No. 8-ranked Gustavus’ 10-year streak as conference playoff champs and became the first team to shut out the Gusties in the playoffs’ 15-year history.

Lindsey Hibbard stopped 27 shots for the Gusties (17-8-2),

St. Thomas has won five in a row and is 14-2-2 since the holiday break.

The Tommies will learn their NCAA Division III playoff assignment on Monday.

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